Court Grants Ex-CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar N100million Bail Over ‘Corruption Charges’
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail in the sum of N100 million to the former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, following his arraignment by the Federal Government on allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
Umar was brought before the court on a four-count charge filed by the Federal Government, accusing him of engaging in acts bordering on alleged corruption and abuse of office during his tenure as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Danladi Umar served as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, the body responsible for adjudicating cases involving breaches of the Code of Conduct for public officers. During his tenure, he presided over several high-profile cases involving politically exposed persons.
On July 9, 2026, the court remanded Umar in Kuje Correctional Centre after he was arraigned by the Federal Government on a four-count charge bordering on alleged corruption and abuse of office.
Justice Peter Kekemeke ordered Umar's remand on Thursday after the Federal Government formally docked the former CCT chairman over allegations that he abused his office by receiving illicit payments from contractors while serving as head of the tribunal.
According to the prosecution, investigations revealed that Umar used his wife's bank account to receive N5.5 million from a contractor awarded the contract to paint the headquarters of the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja in 2021.
The Federal Government further alleged that on January 25, 2024, the former tribunal chairman again used his wife's account to collect N6 million from another contractor handling the digitisation of the CCT's records.
In another count, the prosecution accused Umar of directing a contractor to pay N2.43million for his daughter's tuition at Baze University, Abuja.
The alleged offences are said to contravene Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
When the charges were read, Umar pleaded not guilty to all four counts.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Christopher Mshelia, urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility and fix a date for the commencement of trial.
However, Umar's legal team applied for his release on bail pending the determination of the case.
The prosecution opposed the immediate hearing of the bail application, informing the court that it had only just been served with the application and required time to file a response.
After listening to both parties, Justice Kekemeke adjourned proceedings until July 15 to hear the bail application and ordered that Umar be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing.